She's been in business in Huntsville for nearly 24 years after working as a caterer. She switched career paths after getting requests from clients for some added "amenities."

"They would ask if I did napkins or decorations," she said. "One day, I was in Atlanta and went to a party store and thought this would work."

There were only a couple of stores in Huntsville at the time that did personalized napkins, custom-printed invitations and the like, she said.

Also, "I thought it would be more normal hours ..."

Well, while "more normal hours" were out of the question, Schwerman filled a niche in Huntsville.

"We do the printing on the stationary, invitations and napkins here," she said. "We do small banners and, of course, we have the party supplies.

"It's a happy business ... a fun business."

Chances are you've seen her handiwork, too.

PartyWorks is a mainstay at New Year's Eve parties around the city and this year the company is decorating the Embassy Suites, Club 109 and Mickey's, Sammy T's, The Nook and "a lot of small parties, too," she said.

The business and its three employees (along with Pat and help from her husband Roger) have 5,000 balloons for the drops (3,500 for the Embassy Suites, alone) and will prepare another 1,500 to 2,000 helium balloons Thursday for Friday night's festivities.

"We're looking forward to a good New Year's Eve," Schwerman said. The partying will also top off a successful year for PartyWorks, she said.

"This year has been a significant improvement over last year," she said. "We've had a lot of brides and baby showers have gone crazy.

"This has been a good year ... not a great year."

And, while she is excited about putting up the big party decorations for hundreds of people to enjoy, it's the occasional one-on-one meetings that makes it all worthwhile, she said.

"When I walk up to a door carrying the balloons and ring the doorbell," Schwerman said. "The smile on their face is wonderful."